Dr, SHIPLEY, Bifhop of St. Asaph, 

H I s 

;s E R M o N 

PREACHED IN LONDON, 1773. 

Ftff Paper y Price Nine Penccy 
Common Papery Price Six Pence. 

( 

L«.ge Allww»uce to thole who buy Quantities to give awat,’ 




At the Anmverfary Meeting of the Society for the 
Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, in 
the Vefry-Room of St. Mary-le-Bow, on Fridey 
the igth Day of February, 1773 > 

A greed, that the Thanks of the Society 
be given to the Right Reverend the L.ord 
Bifhbp of St. Afaph, for his Sermon preached 
this Day by his Lordihip before the Society; 
and that his Lordfliip be defired to deliver a 
Copy of the fame to the Society to be printed. 


Richard Hind. Secretaiy, 


A 


SERMON 


Preached rbfore tub 

Incorporated Society 

FOR THE 

^Propagation of the Gofpd in Foreign Paris ; 

AT THEIR 

ANNIVERSARY MEETING 

I N T H E 

Parifli Church of S t. M a r y - l e - B o w, 

On Friday, february 19, 1773. 


By' the Right Reverend 

JON ATH AN Lord Bi(hop of St. Asaph, 


PHILADELPHIA: 
printed by ROBERT BELL, In ThlrJ-firect, 
And SOLD by 

WILLIAM W O O D H O U S E, in Froni-JIrcH, 

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A 


SERMON, ^c. 

Luke, Chap. ii. Ver. 14. 

Glory be to God in the highejl^ and on earth 
peace y good ’will to’wards men. 


I KN O W no pafTage in the holy rcrlptiires> 
that may be adapted with more propriety to 
our prel'ent meeting, than this declaration 
from the angel of the gracious purpofcs of 
Heaven in publifliing the Gofpel. That 
which was the defign of the gofpel itfelf mull; ne- 
celfirily be the chief obje( 5 l of a Society infUtuted 
to propagate it. The generous office, we have un- 
dertaken, is by inftru(fting diflant countries in re- 
ligious truths to promote the peace and happinefs 
of mankind. It is by fuch aftions that the holy* 
feriptures allow the fons of men to eonlider them- 
felves as glorifying God; and fuch, we are allur- 
ed, are the moft likely to obtain his favour and 
good will to men. Without entering into a far- 
ther explication of the words, fuffer me to defire 
that you will keep in your minds the general prin- 
ciple contained in them; and you will find it eafily 

B applicable 



4 ^Sermon before the Society 

applicable to the fafts, the circumftances, and the 
different fituations of things, which I fhall take 
leave to mention, as bein^ more or lei's connected 
with the credit and influence of this Society. 

The firft objcdl of our zeal was the converfi- 
on of the Indians; and it fhould feem no difficult 
tafk to influence the minds of men, who have few 
religious notions of their own growth, and appear • 
to have no ffrong prejudices in favour of them. 
Such minds, one would think, might eafily be led to 
receive a religion of the moft fimple form, confift- 
ing of a few great luminous principles, and incul- 
cating plain rules of life and conduct, which muff 
approve their ufefulnefs in dtfarts, as well as in 
cities. Such dodtrines, founded on Divine autho- 
rity, would, in all appearance, be particularly 
welcome, where the reflraints of law and gover- 
ment have but little force. Yet it has happened; 
contrary to our hopes, that the preaching of the 
gofpel has been of fmall efficacy amongft the Indi- 
ans. The fagacity for which they are remarkable 
feems to be of a partial kind, and to partake more 
of inftindl: than of reafon. Thdy can employ great 
art to obtain their ends; to procure what they de- 
fire; or to gain a fuperiority over an enemy: but 
their paffions and habits proceeding always in one 
narrow tract, they hav*e neither reliffi nor difeern- 
ment for the clearefi: truths, to which they have 
not been accuflomed. After Ihewing the greatefl 
addrefs and courage in fubduing or furpriling an 
enemy, they cannot comprehend that it would be 
generous not to torture him ; and that it would he 


for the Propagation of the G of pel. 5 

wife to give fuch treatment as they would wiHi to 
receive. They have bdides an untameable lavage 
fpirit, which has refuted to hear the voice of in- 
ftrudtion; which has obllinatcly rejeded the arts 
and improvements of the Europeans, and has hi- 
therto only adopted the moll beallly of their vices. 

For thefe reafons, though we ought not to remit 
our endeavours, yet I fear we have little reafon to 
hope for their convcrfion, till fome great change 
in their manners has made them abandon their la- 
vage vagrant life, and prepared them for the dif- 
oipline of law and religion. 

But a more piomiling field is opened to our 
hopes, in the populous provinces of our own colo- 
nies. The rapid increafe of their numbers on eve- 
ry fide, in a country where the mieans of fubfill- 
ence are eafy and open, together with the perpe- 
tual acceflion of inhabitants from Europe, are con- 
tinually forming new congregations. Now know- 
ledge of all kinds will probably be rare amongll 
men who are entering into the firlt rudiments of 
Society; and while their attention is bent on pro- 
curing the neceflaries of life, it is not to be expect- 
ed that they fhould be either diligent or fuccefsful 
in the improvement of religious knowledge. Here 
therefore the inllrudions that are conveyed to them 
by the liberality of this Society, may be ofelTential 
and durable fervice. This is fowingthe good feed 
in a fruitful foil; and what is fo planted may pro- 
duce returns of a hundredfold, and aiford fruit and 
liourifliment to future generations. Allow me to 

indulge 


6 Sermon before the Society 

indulge a little the pleafure of contemplating in 
profpfcdt the good that may refult in afper times 
from this our labour of love. 

Perhaps the annals of hiftory have never af- 
forded a more greatful fpedlacle to a benevolent 
and philofophic mind, than the growth and pro- 
grefs of the Britiih colonies in North America. 
We fee a number of fcattered fettlements, formed 
at firft for the purpofes of trade, or from a fpirit 
of enterprize^ to procure a maintenance, or to en- 
joy the exercife of their religion, which in thofe 
unhappy days was refufed them at home, growing 
by degrees, under the protedtion of their mother- 
country, who treated them with the indulgence 
due to their weaknefs and infancy, into little fe- 
parate common wealths. Placed in a climate, that 
foon became fruitful and healthy by their induftryj 
poffeffing that liberty which was the natural 
grov/th of their own country, and fecured by her 
power agaiiift foreign enemies, they feem to have 
been intended, as a folitary experiment, to inflrudl 
the world to what improvements and happinefs 
mankind wdll naturally attain, when they are fut^ 
fered to ufe their owm prudence, in learch of their 
own interefl. I mull: repeat it again as an obfer- 
vation not unworthy of this audience and this oc- 
jcalion, that there is no inAance in the records of 
time, where infant colonies have been treated with 
fuch a juft and liberal indulgence. 

Had th‘fe fettlements been left to Ihift for 
fhcmft]ves, they would have perhhed and been 

fwep^ 


for the Propagation of the Gofpe!. 7 

fwept away by the rougli courfe of accidents, like 
feeds that are fcattered by the winds, of which not 
one in a thoufand take root and come to maturity. 
Had they been planted by any kingdom but our 
own, the inhabitants would have carried with them 
the chains and oppreflion, to which they had been 
inured at home: they would have been lubjedl to 
the fchemes of minifters and favourites, and have 
fuffered more from their ignorance than from their 
rapine. At beft they could only have hoped to be 
confidered as the live flock upon a lucrative farm, 
which might fometimes be fuffered to thrive for 
the fake of it’s produce. 

But Britain from the beginning has treated her 
colonies^ in a very different manner. She has not 
Ibid them her protedlion at the price of their liber- 
ty ; file has always been ready to encourage thcT 
induftry, to relieve their wants, and to revenge 
their injuries; and has fought no other advantage 
from fo generous a conduct, but the mutual bene- 
fit arifing to diftant countries from the fupply of 
each other’s wants. Adhering to thefe maxims, 
fhe has continued to reap the fruits of her own 
wifdom and moderation in a fuprifing encrcale of 
national greatnefs; while her profperous colonics 
are fpreading without interruption over a vaft con- 
tinent, that may in a few centuries rival the com- 
merce, the arts and the power of Europe. 

It is difficult for man to look into the defliny 
of future ages. The defigns of Providence are too 
yafl and complicated, and our own powers arc too 

narrow. 


S' ^Sermon before the Society 

narrow, to admit of much fatisfaftion to our curl- 
ofity. But when we fee many great and powerful 
caufes conftantly at work, we cannot doubt of their 
producing proportionable effects. The colonies in 
North America have not only taken root and ac- 
quired frrength; but feem haftening with an ac- 
celerated progrefs to fuch a powerful hate, as may 
introduce a new and important change in human 
affairs, Defcended from anceftors cf the mofl im- 
proved and enlightened part of tlie old world, they 
receive as it were by inheritance all the improve- 
ments and dfcoveries of their mother-country. 
And it happens fortunately for them to commence 
their flourifhing hate at a time when the human 
imdcribanding has attained to the free ufe of it’s 
powers, and has learned to ad with vigour and 
certainty. They may avail themfelves not only of 
the experience and indullry, but even of the errors 
and rniftakes of former days. 

Let it be confidered for how many ages great part 
of the world appears not to have thought at all how 
many more they have been bulled in forming fyf- 
tems and conjedlures ; while reafon has been loflin a 
labyrinth of words, and they never feem to have lul- 
peded, on what frivolous matters their minds were 
employed. And let it be well underhood, what rapid 
improvements, what important dilcoveries have been 
made in a few years, by a few countries, with our 
own at their head, which have at lafl difeovered the 
right method of uling their faculties. May we not 
jreafbnably exped that a number of provinces, pol- 
feffed of tilde advantages, and quickened by mu- 
tual emulation, with only the common progrefs of 


for the Propagating of the Gofpel. g 

the human mind, Ihould very confiderably enlarge 
the boundaries of fcience. 'riie vaft continent itfclf, 
over which they are gradually fprcading.may be con- 
fidered as a treafure, yet untouched, of natural pro- 
dudions, that lhail hereafter afford ample matter 
for commerce and contemplation. And if we re- 
flect what a flock of knowledge may be rxcumula- 
ted by the conflant progrefs of induftry and obfer- 
vation, fed with frelh fupplies from the flores of 
nature, aflifled fometimes by thofe happy flrokes 
of chance, which mock all the powers of inventi- 
on, and fometimes by thefe fuperior cliaraders 
which arife occalionally to inflrud and enlighten 
the world; it is difficult even to imagine to what 
heigh th of improvement their difeoveries may ex- 
tend. 

And perhaps they may make as confiderable ad- 
vances in the arts of civil government and the coa- 
dud of life. 

We have rcafon to be proud, and even jealous, 
of cur excellent conflitufion. But thole equitable 
principles on which it was formed, an equal repre- 
fentation, (the beft dilcovery of political wifdom) 
and a jufl and commodious diflribution of power, 
which with us were the price of civil wars, and the 
reward of the virtues and fufferin^s of cur anceflors, 
defeend to them as a natural inheritance, without 
toil or pain. Butmufl: they refl here as in theut- 
moft effort of human genius ? Can cliancc and time, 
the wiidom and the experience of public men, lug- 
geft no new remedy againfl the evils, their vices 
• and 


lo ^Sermon before the Society 

and ambition are perpetually apt to caufe ? May 
they not hope, without prefumption, to prclerve 
a greater zeal for piety and public devotion than 
we have done ? For fu re it can hardly happen to 
them, as it has to us, that when religion is bed un- 
derdoodand rendered mod pure and realonablc, that 
then ihould be the precife time, when many ceafe 
to believe and pradife it, and all in general become 
mod indifferent to it. May they not podibly be 
more fuccefsful than their mother-country has been, 
in preferving that reverence and authority, which 
is due to the laws ? to thofe who make and to 
thofe who execute them? May not a method be 
invented of procuring fome tolerable fhare of the 
comforts of life to thofe inferior ufeful ranks of 
men, to whofe indudry we are indebted for the 
whole ? Time and difcipline may difcover fome 
means to correct the extreme inequalities of con- 
dition between the rich and the poor, fo dangerous 
to the innocence and the happinefs of both. They 
may fortunately be led by habit and choice to def- 
pife that luxury, which is confidered with us as 
the true enjoyment of wealth. They may have 
little relilh for that ceafelels hurry of amufements, 
which is purfued in this country without pleafure, 
exercife, or employment. And perhaps after try- 
ing fome of our follies and caprices, and rejecting 
the red, they may be led by reafon and experiment 
to that old fimplicity, which was fird pointed out 
by nature, and has produced thofe models which 
we dill admire in arts, eloquence and manners. 
The diverfity of new feenes and fituations, which 
fc) many growing dates muft neceflarily pafs 

e through. 


for the Propagation of the Gofpel. i r 

through, may introduce changes in the fiuftuating 
opinions and manners of men, which we can form 
no conception of. And not only the gracious dif- 
pohtion of Providence, but the vifible preparation 
of caufcs, fcems to indicate ftrong tendencies to- 
wards a general improvement. 

And I hope that thefe matters, which I have 
prefumed to dwell upon perhaps a little too mi- 
nutely, will not appear totally foreign to the pre- 
fent occafion, if we refledl that to whatever limits 
the population of our colonies may extend, what- 
ever ftates and kingdoms they may form ; through 
all the progrefs of their fortunes and profperity; 
the labours of this Society will probably continue 
to operate with an increafing influence. That fo- 
ber and rcafonable fenfe of duty, which has been 
taught under our dire(ftion to a few fcattered vil- 
lages, may give it’s charader hereafter to the reli- 
gion and morals of a powerful ftate. The weak 
and imperfect fruits we reap at prefent may bear 
no higher proportion to the future benefits that 
may arife, than that of a few fcattered feeds to the 
fulnefs of the harveft. 

And perhaps the difinterefted zeal of this Society 
for the inftrudtion of our brethren in North Ame- 
rica, may tend to revive that union and cordiality 
between the mother-country and it’s colonies, 
wliich for the common utility ought never to have 
been interrupted. It is by no means decent from 
this place to cenfure the conduft of our fuperiors, 
or even to fuppofe it blameable^ but furely as good 
• ♦ ' C fubjeds 


12 Sermon before the Society 

fubje^ls we may wifh and endeavour to heal tlie 
wounds of our country, without enquiring by what 
hand they were inflifted. We may, and i think 
we ought to wilh, that the true intereft of the 
whole exteniive community may govern our future 
contefls, and regulate all our claims. Our mutual 
• relation was formed, and has hitherto fubfifted, by 
a perpetual communication of benefits. We want 
the produce of foils and climates, that differ £0 
much from our own; and they will long have oc- 
cafion for the fruits of our arts, our induff ry and 
our experience. And fhould they ever ceafe to 
want our proteiUon, which as long as we render it 
beneficial to them they never will ; yet we may flill 
continue united in intereff, in commerce and the 
grateful remembrance of old fervices. May the 
wife and good on both fides, without enquiring too 
'curioufly into the grounds of paff animofities, en- 
deavour by all prudent means to reflore that old 
public friendfhip and confidence, which made us 
great, happy and vidtorious. To countries fo clofe- 
ly united it is needlefs, and even dangerous, to haye 
recourfe to the interpretation of charters and written 
laws. Such difeuftions excite jealoufy, and inti- 
mate an unfriendly difpofition. It is common uti- 
lity, mutual wants and mutual fervices, that flioaild 
point out the true line of fubmiflion and authority. 
Let them refpedt the power that faved them; and 
let us always love the companions of our dangers 
and our glo ies. If we confider their profperity as 
making pait of our own, we fliall feel no jealoufy 
at their improvements: and they will always chear- 
fully fubmit to an authority, which they find is 

exercifed 


for the Propagation of the Gojpel. i j 

exercifed invariablyto thecommon advantage. Dur- 
ing all our happy days of concord, partly from our 
national moderation, and partly from the wildom, 
and fometimes perhaps from the carelefsnefs of our 
miniiters, they have been trulfed in a good mea- 
fure with the entire management of their affairs; 
and thefuccefs they have met with ought to be to 
us an ever memorable proof, that the true art of 
government confifts in not governing too much. 
And why fhould friendfliip and gratitude, and long 
attachments, which infpire all the relifh and fweet- 
nefs of private life, be fuppofed to be of no weight 
in the intercourfe between great communities ? 
Thefe are principles of human nature, which a6l 
with much greater certainty on numbers than on 
individuals. If properly cultivated they may to 
us be productive of the nobleft benefits; and, at all 
events, will neither leffen the extent of our power, 
nor fliorten the duration of it. 

When things are on fo reafonable a footing, if 
there fhould happen to be any errors in govern- 
ment, they will foon be corrected by the friendly 
dilpofition of the people; and the endeavours to fe- 
parate the inteieft of the colonies from that ot 
Great Britain will be received with the indignation, 
that is due to the artifices of factious men, who 
with to grow eminent by the misfortunes of their 
country. 

tV 

Even in that future fiate of independency, whicli 
fome amongfl them ignorantly wifh for, but whichi 
for their true intereft can never be too long delayed; 

C 2 the 


14 ^Sermon before the Society 

the old and prudent will often look back on their 
prefent happinefs with regret; and conlider the 
peace and lecurity, the flate of vifible improvement, 
and brotherly equality, which they enjoyed under 
the protection of their mother-country, as the true 
golden age of America. 

I NEED not fugge/l how favourable thefe difpo- 
fitions mull: prove to the reception of the religious 
and benevolent doctrines, which it is the bulinefs 
of this Society to propagate. Under a mutual in- 
clination to peace and good will, the leflbns of piety 
we teach will be heard with that fair attention which 
alwa\s turns to the advantage of truth; and the 
claims we make will be ellimated (which is all we 
ought to defire) by the reafonablenefs of them. 

I OWN I feel upon my mind a llrong impreffion 
of the public advantages that would refult from 
this benevolent and chriftian policy; and I could 
wilh for the jnterell of mankind, and of our country 
in particular, that it may not be thought wholly of 
a vilionary nature. I think I can fee a ftrong and 
immediate demand upon us for fuch a conduct, 
from the fituation we are in, and the unufual occur- 
rences that have palTed before us within a few years. 
There feems at prefent to be a great and general 
commotion, and tendency to change, in the minds 
of men. Animated by the gradual improvement of 
knowledge, and the fortunate example of this coun- 
try, our neighbours have had the courage to think 
with greater freedom on the moft important fub- 
jecifs, and to look for fomething better in religion 

^nd 


for the Propagation of the Gofpel. r 5 

and government, than they find cftablifhed among 
themfelves. And even in this land of liberty, 
where we have been long in pofTefTion of the moft 
folid and valuable truths, the fpirit of enquiry is 
ftill at work, and urging it’s purfuits with a dan- 
gerous freedom, that rifks more than it can hope 
to gain. At the fame time not only difcontent and 
fatlion, but the real difficulties of things, the ex- 
tent, the fludtuation and the intricacies of com- 
merce afford fufficient exercife for political wifdom. 
Add to this a vaft acceffion of diftant territory, the 
art of governing which we are yet to learn. Our 
colonies are rifing into ftates and nations. The 
extreme boundaries of the world are opening to our 
vievvj and regions, unknown to our fathers, may 
foon become the objects of contention. In this 
great fhifting feene of human affairs, the concerns 
of this extenlive empire are growing every year into 
more importance and dignity. It behoves us to 
adopt fome plan of conduit, that ffiall be fuitable 
to our lituation and the high charailer we fuftain. 
The intereft of Britain, confidered fmgly by itfelf, 
ought not at prefent to be the foie; and in a few 
ages may not be the moft confiderable objeit of at- 
tention. We have already tried what advantage is 
to be found in governing by force; and have no 
reafon to be proud of the experiment. Wffiat be- 
nefit has accrued to the public from the plunder 
and defolation of an induftrious helplefs people.? 
The whole profit, we have reaped from fo much 
injufticc and diffionour, has ended in fraudulent 
fchemes, vain and extravagant expeifations, ruin-r 
ous expence and luxury ; attended with a general 

lofs 


1$ yfSERMON before the Society 

lofs of credit and confidence, a fudden fufpenfion 
of commerce and induftry, and an almofl: total 
floppage of the main fprings and vital motions of 
fociety. It requires no common degree of wifdom 
to deliver our country from fuch gains and fuch 
profperity as this! 

A GREAT liberal commanding fpiritis wanting; 
fuch as has appeared but rarely in modern times, 
but was better known to the ancients ; which, with- 
out computing and calculating what is ftridtly due, 
can extort afieclion and gratitude by public fervices; 
which can facrifice little and even great interefts to 
the efi;ablifl:iment of a folid permanent authority, 
founded on juftice and moderation: which permit- 
ting it's fubjeds to enjoy and improve ail their na- 
tural advantages, can always avail itfelf of their 
wealth and numbers for the defence or the glory of 
the empire; and is fure to find the moft powerful 
refources of government in their friendfhip and love. 

We prefume not to inftruft our rulers in the 
meafures of goverment: but it is the proper office 
of a preacher ofthegolpel of peace, to point out 
the laws of juftice and equity which mufl ultimate- 
ly regulate the happinefs of ftates as well as of in- 
dividuals; and which are no other in effedt than 
thofe l>enevolent chriftian morals which it is the 
province of this Society to teach, transferred from 
the duties of private life to the adminiftration of 
public affairs. In fadt, by what bond of union fhall 
W'e hold together the members of this great empire, 
difperled and fcattered as they lie over the face of 


for the Propagating of the GofpeJ. 17 

the earth? No power can be fwlft or extenfive e- 
nough to anfwer the purpofe. Some art mu(l he 
employed to intereftall the diftant parts in the pre- 
fervation of the whole ; which can only be efred:- 
cd by ferving, obliging and protecting them. It 
ought not to be the firft objed in contemplation, 
what we are to get by them ; but how we can bed 
improve, affild and reward them; by what bene- 
fits we may procure their happinels and win their 
affedion. But is government then intitlcd to no 
emoluments in recompence for all its cares? I an- 
fwer, that they who have the heart to do good to 
thofe who depend upon them, w ill always meet 
wdth an ample return. None are fo furc to reap 
the benefits of the foil, as they who have fpared 
no expence in the cultivation. And it is univer^ 
fally true, that the more w'e exad from our fub- 
jeds, the lefs we fhall gain from them. ** Boun^ 
** tifulnefs is a plentiful garden^ and mercifulnejs en- 
“ dureth for ever P' Let the diflant nations that 
depend upon us, be made to know and feel that 
they owe their peace and happinels to our protedi- 
on. Let them be encouraged to confider them- 
felves not as our Haves, but as our friends and bre- 
thren. And let us endeavour to wipe away the 
tears from the poor opprelTed natives of India; and 
fuffer them., if poffible, to enjoy fome tade of the 
legal lecurity and civil liberty, which renders life 
dear toourfelves; which are bleffings hitherto un- 
known to thofe climates, but more grateful to the 
heart of man, than all the fruits and odours which 
nature has lavifned upon them. 


This 


i8 -^Sermon before the Society 

This righteoufnefs and mercy, which is due to 
all men, but efpecially to thofe who are under our 
protedlion, is the law of nature, the command of 
religion, and it ought to be the firft and leading 
maxim of civil policy. But it is amazing how 
flowly in all countries the principles of natural juf- 
tice, which are fo evidently neceffary in private 
life, have been admitted into the adminiftration of 
public affairs. Not many ages ago, it was cuftom- 
ary to engage in war without a reafonable caufe or 
provocation, and to carry it on without humanity 
or mercy. Since then, it is happily become necef- 
I'ary for ftates to explain their motives, andjuftify 
their conduct, before they begin to deftroy their 
fellow creatures. And bleffed be hi? memory who 
jfirll taught the foldier to fpare the ufeful hufband- 
man, and to feel a horror at the fliedding of inno- 
cent blood. 

It has been the policy of government, fuch as 
it is, from the earlielf times to keep diftant provin- 
ces and colonies under the mofl: fevere reftraints and 
fubjcdfion. Yet w'hen thofe reftraints have been 
removed, the mother-country has always been a 
great gainer by the advantages flie has communi- 
cated to her fubjeds. Indeed it is a truth, not 
more important than it is evident and obvious, that 
the mod fure and effedual method of receiving 
good from men is to do good to them ; or, as St. 
Paul beautifully expreffes it, ** to provoke one ano- 
** ther to good works.” But the minds of men are 
not luthcicntly prepared and enlightened by experi- 
ence 


for the Propagation of the Gofpel. 19 

cnee to adopt it in pradlicc. A time, I doubt not, 
will come, in the progreflive improvement of hu- 
man affairs, when the checks and reftraints wc 
lay on the induftry of our fellow-fubjed:s, and the 
jealoufies we conceive at their prolperity, will be 
confidered as the cffe<fls of a miftaken policy, pre- 
judicial to all parties, but chiefly to ourfelves. It 
would be a noble effort of virtuous ambition to an- 
ticipate this difeovery; to break through the pre- 
judices and felfiffi fpirit of the age; to find a better 
path to our true intereft; and to make our country 
great, and powerful, and rich, not by force or 
fraud, but by jufticc, friendfhip and humanity. 

1 SHOULD not have dwelt fo long on fo unufu- 
al a fubjedl, had it not been for the great and al- 
moft infinite importance of it. The virtue of a 
private man aflifts and fupports a few individuals ; 
but this public virtue does good to thoufands and 
tens of thoufands. The former relieves the dif- 
trefs of a friend, or of a family: the latter adts in a 
higher fphere; it founds ftates and kingdoms, or 
makes them profperous and happy. Yet all this 
merit, which a nation can never fufliciently ac- 
knowledge, at leaft all that we prefume to de- 
feribe, confifts in the right application of the plain 
good rules, which are fo often repeated to us in 
the feripture; *‘Whatfoever ye would that men 
“ Jhould do unto you, do ye even fo unto them. Fol~ 
“ low that which is good to all men. Look not eve- 
ry man on bis own things, but every man alfo on 
“ the things of ethers . Bear ye one another's bur- 
thenSf and fo fulfil the law of Cbrifi." But thefe 

truths 


20 "yf S E R M o N the Society 

truths lie before the eyes of men, like medicinal 
herbs in the open field; and for want of applying 
them to their proper objeds, they remain igno- 
rant of their virtues. Yet we may fay, with a pi- 
ous confidence, that this has not been our own cafe. 
This Society has thought that we could not obey 
thcfe divine precepts in a manner more agreeable 
to the true fpirit of them, than by teaching to dil- 
tant nations the truths that are beft calculated to 
make them happy. Could we teach them to the 
great and the wife of this world, that would be hap- 
pinefs indeed; that would be the moft effedual 
and the moft beneficial Propagation of the Gofpel 
that the world has yet feen. Mankind would then 
have an experimental proof of the falvation offered 
to us from above; and would acknowledge with 
gratitude the propriety of that meffage from Hea- 
ven, ** Glory be to God in the highejlf on eat tit 
peace, good wU towards men," 


finis. 


